ADV Styled 2015 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Revealed at Intermot

 The new V-Strom 650 gets a more rugged off-road attitude and appearance.

After months of speculation, Suzuki has finally revealed details about the latest rendition of its popular middle-weight adventure bike at the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany today. The new model, called the V-Strom 650XT (DL650XAL5), receives a beak to give it a better family resemblance to the V-Strom 1000. The new beak design includes air ducts that help channel airflow to the radiator and Suzuki is quick to remind us that they introduced the first beak design on their Paris-Dakar Rally bikes of the 80’s.

An extensive line of accessories allow owners to customize their bike for their style of riding. Some of the new optional accessories include heated grips, aluminum skid plate and LED auxiliary lights.

The 2015 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT comes with a long list of accessories, including heated grips, aluminum skid plate, touring windscreen, luggage and LED auxiliary lights.

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While rumors raised hopes that Suzuki would add a 21″ front wheel and increase suspension travel for off-road use, wheel size and suspension remain unchanged for 2015. Suzuki’s charismatic 645cc v-twin engine will remain unchanged from the current model.

The U.S. version of the V-Strom 650XT will include ABS, adjustable touring windscreen, newly designed aluminum panniers and new reinforced crash bars as standard equipment. The MSRP price of the new V-Strom 650XT will be $10,399.

Suzuki will also offer two other V-Strom 650 models for 2015, the V-Strom 650 ABS and V-Strom 650 ABS Adventure. Both appear to be identical to the 2014 models with no beak, running on cast aluminum wheels. The V-Strom 650 ABS Adventure also seems to use the previous year’s crash bars.

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Mexico, North Africa, Europe, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

From what we know so far, the primary changes are the spoked wheels and beak. The new crash bars are reinforced and the bash plate is now made of aluminum instead of plastic. You can also get heated grips and LED aux lights as accessories. We may discover more changes later this week when Suzuki releases information about the V-Strom 650 for the US market.

Most comments I’ve read are to do with people really liking the 650 motor, especially if not pillioning. Those that pillion seem to like the 1000 which is not too much heavier. Can’t see how 750 would help since it would still be perceived as less than the 800cc competitors